Strongroom (1962)

Just seen on Talking Pictures, this is the first British B movie I’ve seen that’s actually BETTER than Detour (1945) and other classics of the US genre.
It’s directed by Vernon Sewell, a pioneer of British B movies. He started out as a production assistant on Michael Powell’s The Edge Of The World (1937). The only other film of his I’ve seen – and his only A movie – is The Silver Fleet (1943), produced by P&P. (Not so hot, despite the presence of Kathleen Byron…)
Strongroom’s written by a duo: Richard Harris – who on tv was creator of the timeless Shoestring (1979-80) with Trevor Eve and for the movies wrote Lewis Gilbert’s Stepping Out (1991) and English dialogue on – a new one on me – Lady In The Car With Glasses And A Gun (1970) with Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar! I definitely want to see that…
And Max Marquis, whose only movie this was, but on tv wrote Z-Cars and (under a pseudonym) Crossroads (and also operated as a pulp fiction writer).
Last but not least, the cast is headed by Derren Nesbitt, who ALMOST got famous in Where Eagles Dare (1968) as the Nazi Von Hapen.
Watch it next time it’s on. It’s only 80 minutes. You won’t regret it!